The Phoenix Suns had two major areas of their roster to improve this offseason - even after the departures of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal - and they made a nice attempt at fixing both. The center spot being bolstered with the additions of Mark Williams through trade, and Khaman Maluach via the NBA Draft.
Then there is the point guard position, which should see one of Devin Booker or Jalen Green begin the campaign in that spot. Behind them sits Collin Gillespie - one of the few bright spots of last season - and then Jordan Goodwin and Jared Butler figure to battle it out for the final roster spot and third point guard position on the team.
Suns keep signing and waiving Jaden Shackelford.
Then there is Jaden Shackelford - himself a guard - who the Suns have just done something strange with for the second season in a row. Just like last season, the 24-year-old G League standout was signed to an Exhibit 10 contract, and was placed on waivers a day later. Go back a year and Shackelford again received a training camp deal, but was waived before the season started.
He then wound up playing for the Valley Suns - the franchise's G League affiliate - and had some notable performances down there. But why repeat the trick again? Well, Shackelford did spend the summer on the Golden State Warriors' Summer League roster, so there may have been some interest from elsewhere.
The Phoenix Suns are now waiving Jaden Shackelford, per source. This was to gain his G League rights. https://t.co/hZ1l1UQowg
— Rob Murrows (@RobMurrows) September 9, 2025
Really though it is actually in the best interests of the player to land in the G League this way - because if he spends over 60 days with the team - he'll be eligible for a nice bonus. The kind of payday that wouldn't have come his way had he not been signed and waived in this manner, just like before.
Shackelford needs to only look at where the Suns are at - and how Gillespie kicked on last season - to know this could be a great opportunity for him. The organization is no longer trying to win, which increases his chances of first year head coach Jordan Ott giving him a chance at some stage during the season.
This was how Gillespie managed to stick when he got called up, by taking the chance with both hands and playing harder than pretty much anybody else on the court. He's never suited up in the league proper despite being around for a while now, which will surely give him extra motivation to make the leap with Phoenix this season. He will have plenty of competition.